Automobile camp-trailer.



C. A. RICHARDS.

AUTOMOBILE CAMP TRAILER.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 24, I918. 1,300,021 Patented Apr. 8,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. A. RICHARDS.

AUTOMOBILE CAMP TRAILER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1918.

Patented Apr. 8,1919.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

CHARLES A. RICHARDS, 0F PAULLINA, IOWA.

AUTOMOBILE CAMP- TRAILER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8', 1919.

Application fi1ed May 24, 1918. Serial No. 236,405.

T 0 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. RICHARDS, a citizen of the- United States, residing at Paullina, in the county of OBrien and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Camp-Trailers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automobile camp trailer comprising a main frame or body, a collapsible structure supporting a top, a plurality of mattress frames and means for moving these frames into operative position and lifting the collapsible structure and top. The invention further comprises various other features of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the app'artus in operative position.

Fig. 2 is taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the main portion of the structure in top plan.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, on a reduced scale.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in vertical section showing means for throwing the mattress frames to the outer position and means for elevating one of the canopy supporting devices.

Figs. 5 and 6 are details of construction described below.

The body portion of the device includes a main frame provided with a bottom member 10, -a vertically extending wall 11 and another vertically extending wall 12 at the opposite edge of bottom member 10, the wall last named being somewhat lower than the wall 11. An end wall 13 is provided at one end of the frame, the opposite end being open.

Vertically mounted posts 14, 15, 16 and 17 are located at suitable distances from the ends of the body portion and support the upper structure. They also provide bearings for longitudinal shafts 18 and 19 carrying gear wheels 20 and each shaft being also provided with a ratchet wheel 21 engaged by a pawl 22, these shafts being designed for operation by means of a crank detachable with reference thereto. U

A plurality of mattress frames or bed frames are provided, these being designated 25 and 26 and comprising outer rails one of which is designated 27 and the other of which shown at 28 and is somewhat lower than the outer member first named. The mattress frames are designed to move inwardly over the body portion and to overlap each other when the device is in closed position. The frames mentioned include inner bars or rails 29 or 30 as the case may be and a plurality of end rails designated 31. These end rails carry rack members and are cutaway longitudinally as shown at 83 for the purpose of cooperating with removable guiding members 84 and located at one end of the main frame, and similar members located at the opposite end thereof. Tie-rods or the like forv the mattress'frames are shown at 38. It may be added that the main frame is braced by lower transverse bars or the like designated 39 and by upwardly extending braces 40 connected with said bars and connected at their upper ends to the sides at the points 41. The mattress frames are supported when in extended position by leg members 42 pivotally connected with bars 43 extending through bail members 44 carried by the outer longitudinal members of the mattress frames. tend to the side portions 11 and 12 of the main frame and are detachably connected therewith. Angle members 45 are secured at the ends of members 43 and engage straps or the like designated 46.

The upper frame for supporting the top comprises longitudinal members 48 and 49 and transverse members 51. The top proper is designated 52 and is carried by the frame specified. Means for supporting the upper frame comprises a plurality of members 53 and 54 at each end of the device. The upper portions of supporting bars 53 and 54 are pivotally connected with the upper frame, and at a point somewhat distant from their lower ends they are ivotally connected with bars 55 and 56, the bar being pivoted to bar and the bar 56 being pivoted to bar 54. These lower bars 55 and 56 are pivotally connected with posts 16 and 17 and bars similar to 55 and 56 at the opposite end of the device are pivotally connected with posts 14 and 15. The structure for elevating the These members 43 extop and supporting the latter is the same at each end of the device and it is only necessary to describe the connections and operation at one end. Upper bars 53 and 54 carry outwardly extending legs one of these being shown at 58 and the other at 59, the elements last named being 'secured to bars 53 and 54 at about the angle shown. Legs 58 and 59 are connected with the outer side members of the mattress frames by means of bars 60 and 61, pivotal connections being provided at each'end. The outward movement of the bed frames and the pull exerted on bars 60'and 61 throws the legs 58 and 59 into position for elevating the top and places the members 53 and 55 in alinement and in a substantially vertical position, members 54 detachable and permits the connecting rod to drop into a substantially vertical posi tion for providing easy access to the device and to the passage-way between the mattress frames when the apparatus is in position for use. Member 63 and arm 64 are detachable at 64.

A stop plate 69 mounted at 70 enga es the edge portion of vertical bar 55 when t e top is raised and limits the movement in that direction. A similar stop plate 71 performs.

the same function on the opposite side of the'end structure. b

Each of the outer side members of the mattress frames carries a'rotatably mounted jshaft designated73 or 74 as thecase may beand at each end thereof is mounted an upright 75 carrying a diagonal bra'ce 76supporting the canopy. These shaftsca'rrying'. the uprights just specified are rotated for the purpose of bringing the uprights into vertical positionflfrom a horizontal position, by means of slidable connecting devices designated 79 and secured to the said shafts by 'any suitable device 80, and secilred'at 83 to one of the vertical posts 14, 15, 16 or 17. Members 79 each havearms 81 at the ends thereof, these arms carrying eye membe slidable on the bars 82; A guiding membe 83 acts alsoas a stop, and link 84 operates arm and rotates the shaft 73 or shaft 74 outward movement of the mattress frame the shaft is partly rotated and the upright is raised into operative position. The mattress frames may be detached, when it is desired to use the body as an ordinarytruck trailer.

Suitable rollers or small wheels 81 are provided at the sides of the apparatus for permitting it to be attached by means of securing devices 82 to the vehicle which is to be employed in transporting the apparatus.

Guy ropes 85 are connected at 86 and lead to stakes driven into the ground. The top is secured when lowered by pivoted bars 87 engaging the forked portions of brackets 88, wing nuts 89 retaining them in position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a main frame, a plurality of mattress frames movable laterally with reference thereto leaving a free space between theframes when extended, means comprising a rack member and a rotatable member for moving said frames to extended position, a collapsible structure and a top supported thereby, and means connected with the collapsible structure and the outer portions of the mattress frames for elevating and lowering the colla'psible structure.

2. In a device of the class described, a main frame, a plurality of overlapping and laterally movable mattress frames supported from the main frame, means carried by each mattress frame and means mounted on the main frame for extending the mattress frames, a canopy supporting device mounted on each mattress frame and adapted to be raised from a horizontal to a verticalv position upon the movement of the mattress outwardly, a top for the main frame, collapsible means for supporting the top, and

means connected with the outer portion of each mattress frame and with the collapsible structure for elevating. the latter.

'3. In a device of the class described, a main frame, a plurality of mattress frames movable laterally with referencethereto, a top, a collapsible structure for supporting the top, a canopysupporting device connectedw'ithea'ch mattress frame, and means for elevating the collapsible structure, and means for elevating the canopy support upon movement of each mattress frame outwardly from the main frame.-' I

4. In a device of the class described, a main fram a. top, a collapsible structure for supporting the top including a plurality of bars'pivotally connected, a plurality of vertical posts supported by the main frame, means for connecting certain of the bars first named with said posts, laterally extending le carried by others of said bars first name and means for moving said legs for elevating the,collapsible structure and throwing'certain' of the bars 'pivotally connected with each other into a substantially main frame, a plurality of mattress frames movable laterally With reference thereto, a top, a collapsible structure for supporting the top, a canopy supporting device connected With each mattress frame, and including a rotatable shaft and radial arms thereon, means for elevating the collapsible structure, and means for elevating the canopy support upon movement, of each mattress frame outwardly from the main 10 frame. v In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES A. RICHARDS. 

